The hike pushed the etac distributor price range up to 81-85 cents/lb in the past week from the previous 76-80 cents/lb, buyers said.

Sources attributed the etac hike to a recent 3 cent/lb ($66/tonne) increase in feedstock acetic acid and an expected jump in the cost of industrial ethanol, also a major raw material, later this month. “It is all feedstock-related,” a supplier said.

The etac increase matched producer nominations for August. Celanese issued a proposal in late July to raise prices on 1 August by 5 cents/lb in North, Central and South America, and Eastman issued a similar raise to take effect on 15 August.

Little spot trading was being done, but sources said that range moved up 1 cent/lb to 71-75 cents/lb from the previous 70-74 cents/lb.

August contract prices did not change, but sources said September contracts likely would move up early next month as a result of this week’s changes. The current etac contract range is 75-79 cents/lb, according to ICIS.

Etac suppliers in the US include Celanese, Eastman and Sasol. Etac is used primarily for inks and coatings and is an ingredient in nail polish.